By Jozef Verbruggen on May 29, 2023 in Alaska, Arctic, Canada, Europe, Finland, Iceland, North America, Norway, Polar Regions, Regions, USA, Western Europe

The Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, is a magical natural phenomenon in shades of green, blue and sometimes red, that only occurs in the northern hemisphere.

What causes the Northern Lights?

Many studies have been devoted to it, but simply put, what you see is the reaction of electricity-charged particles from the sun sent to earth by the solar wind, which collide with parts of the outer atmosphere, with oxygen and nitrogen. The amount of charged particles shot into space along with the speed of the solar wind determine how likely it is to see this natural phenomenon and in what strength.

Collisions with oxygen at more than about 300 kilometers altitude produces beautiful red auras, nitrogen at lower altitudes makes you see blue light, and when particles collide with this gas at even higher altitudes, brilliant purple and violet hues are created. When these colors are mixed in the air, there is also a chance of seeing the colors pink and white.

A fairytale experience

To experience this colorful spectacle in person was always high on my wish list. In April 2023, my dream finally came true. I was lucky enough to admire the bright dancing lights of the aurora twice(!) during my adventures in Swedish Lapland. Above the frozen Lule River in Luleå, I enjoyed swarming green streaks that finally broke up like a falling curtain in the night sky. A fairy-tale experience that will stay with me forever!

Can’t wait to experience this extraordinary light…

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